May 11, 2017

Admiring the Scenic View

At first, I was going to talk about California and the large quantity of scenic views for which the Golden State is famous for, but then I realized that scenic views are available just about anywhere. The trick is to pause for a moment and appreciate them.

It could happen when you’re standing in the middle of a meadow on a sunny, spring day, with the tall grass rippling in the wind. Or perhaps you’ve planted your feet on the cool wet sand of the beach, watching the waves roll in and splash your toes. Or maybe you’re lying on a blanket at the top of a hill, miles from civilization and the city lights, where you can see more stars than you can count. Or you’re in the midst of those city lights, up in a hotel room with large plate-glass windows, mesmerized by the flash of the neon signs and the brake lights of the cars moving through the streets. Any or all of these scenarios count as scenic views.

My problem is that I always forget to enjoy them. Oh sure, it’s easy to remember to pause and soak up the scenery while I’m on vacation .Oftentimes, half the reason I’m there is so I can see somewhere new and gawk at the wondrous sights.

But in my day-to-day life, I don’t stop often enough to enjoy what’s around me. I’m always in a hurry to get the kids from one place to another, or I’m trying to get back to my computer to flesh out a writing idea. It’s so easy to get into my routine and ignore the world around me.

One of my friends asked me a few weeks ago how prolific the daffodils were this year on a hill in town that is famous for its abundance of daffodils. Despite the fact that I drive past that hill once or twice a day, I couldn’t answer her question. It was just another spot on my usual route to where I needed to go. I’d stopped looking at that hill a long time ago.

But not anymore. Life is too short, and there are too many scenic views to enjoy. From now on, I’m paying more attention, no matter where I go. Even if it’s just to the grocery store.

Good points, Staci. I drive past "daffodil hill" as well on a fairly regular basis, but completely missed the blooming season.
I am consciously trying to "slow down" and be present when I go on my walks... listen to the birds, the wind, look around at the greenery (and the houses, because this is usually just the suburbia in which I live).
It's difficult, because the brain is always whirling around and darting this way and that, but I figure it's good practice... someday I'll get there!